Combination plumb-rule.



A. G. BERKEBILE.

COMBINATION PLUMB RULE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I. 1916.

ADAM G. BEBKEBILE, OF SOMERSET, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINATION PLUMB-RULE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

Application filed March 1, 1916. Serial No. 81,4=31.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM Gr. BERKEBILE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerset, in the county of Somerset and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Co1nbination Plumb-Rules, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in combined plumb rules, straight edges and levels and the object of my invention is to provide a tool of the above described character which is capable of being dismembered so that it may be packed in compact form for transportation or storage.

A still further object of my invention consists in providing the various sections with bubble tubes and in the provision of a simple means for adjustably mounting the bubble tubes and locking them in adjusted position, this securing means being of such a nature that a bubble tube may be removed with ease in case of injury or if the tool is to be packed for shipment.

In this connection, a still further object of my invention is to provide each bubble tube with a casing which protects that portion of the glass tube through which the bubble is exposed and with a rotatable sleeve or outer casing which may be turned to bring an opening formed in it in alinement with the sight opening of the bubble tube casing or turned to cover such sight opening and protect the glass tube itself.

A still further object of my invention consists in providing a simple and effective means for detachably connecting the sections making up the level and for insuring the proper relative alinement of the sections when so connected.

Oftentimes, it is desirable to be able to employ a level for locating distant points at the same elevation as the level itself and for locating distant points along a certain direction, such as along the wall of a building or the like.

A still further object of this invention, therefore, consists in providing front and. rear sights which may be detachably connected to the front and rear ends of the upper edge of the level and employed in connection with each other in the location of points at a distance.

Another object consists in providing supportin members or feet applicable tov the ends (if the level and vertically adjustable thereon so that they may support the intermediate portion of the level in raised position above the work being operated upon.

In this connection, a still further object of my invention consists in the provision of certain elevating or adjusting screws which may be threaded into the end portions of the intermediate section thereof, as the case may be, and which may be in like manner utilized to support the level in spaced relation to the work operated upon.

l Vith these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a part of this application.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, illustrating the manner of adjustably securing a bubble tube casing in the frame of the level;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the bubble tubes and its casing removed from the level;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partially in elevation and partially in section, illustrating the means employed for detachably connecting the level sections;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the level, showing one of the sights applied thereto and also one of the supporting members or feet;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the other sight employed in connection with that shown in Fig. 6.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

My improved tool, as best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, consists primarily of a plurality of parts which are detachably connected to each other end to end and which, when so secured, form a substantially rectangular shaped body member. Although the level may be made up of any desired number of parts or sections, I have, for the sake of convenience, illustrated its body as made up of a central member 10 and end members 11 and 12. Each of these members is preferably made of metal and each consists of a substantially rectangular shaped frame which, throughout the greater portion of its extent, is T-shaped in section having the inwardly directed strengthening flange 13. As best shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the ends of the section 10 and the abutting ends of the end sections 11 and 12 have their reinforcing webs 13 thickened to give added strength in order that they may be properly secured.

The section 10 is provided with vertically spaced sockets 14: in its end faces and the abutting ends of the terminal sections 11 and 12 are provided with pins 15 adapted to engage the sockets and hold the sections in perfect alinement when the tool is assembled. The sections are secured by means of bolts 16 passed through the abutting ends of the sections and carrying nuts 17. As will be seen from Fig. 5, the bolts are passed through the ends of the sections between the pins 15 and the end faces of the sections are cut-away, as at 18, centrally of their height in order ;that merely the upper and lower portions of such faces may engage each other when the sections are assembled. This decreases the plane surfaced areas which are necessary to insure proper and true alinement of the sections and therefore decreases the likelihood of inaccurate construction. Furthermore, in assembling the sections, the provision of the space between the intermediate portions of their end faces assists in the proper application of thebolts 16.

The lower frame member of the intermediate section 10 is thickened throughout its length and its lower face is formed with a longitudinally extending arcuate groove or channel 19 in order that such section, by itself may be employed in properly leveling and .alining shafts and similar structures. This section is oftentimes employed by itself and for this reason it is provided not only with the central horizontal bubble tube 20 but in spaced relation to each end with the vertical bubble tubes 21 and 22, the central bubble tube being supported between upwardly directed .thickened brace webs 23 connecting the lower frame member with the upper frame member and the bubble tubes 21 and 22 being disposed between the thickened lower frame member and thickened portions 24 of the upper frame member.

The manner of mounting these bubble tubes is best illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive of the drawings. In these figures I have illustrated the bubble tube 21 as inclosed in a cylindrical metal casing 25, terminating at one end in a substantially circular head 26 and at its other end in a cross head 27 having inwardly diverging or inclined end faces 28, each formed throughout its length with a longitudinally extending arcuate groove 29. This bubble tube casing is somewhat less in length than the space between the upper and lower frame members of the section 10 and its circular head 26 is formed in; its outer face with a conical socket 30 to seat the rounded terminal 31 of an adjusting screw 32 which is threaded inwardly through the lower frame member and so proportioned that its slotted end.seatsabove the lower face of such frame member when the screw is in position. The upper frame member is formed with tapped bores to receive similar adjusting screws 33, the rounded terminals 34 of which seat in the grooves 29 of the head 27 of the. bubble tube casing. As will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2, after roughly securing the bubble tube casing in place by these screws, its axis may be brought at right angles to the upper and lower faces of the level by proper a djustment of the screws 33, the loosening of either of these screws and corresponding tightening of the other swinging the bubble tube toward that screw which is loosened.

It will further be apparent that a rela-.

tively slight withdrawal of any one of the three adjusting screws employed in supporting the bubble tube casing will. totally release the casing and permitits ready removal. from the level. Preferably, each bubble tube casing 25 surrounded by a ro tatable sleeve 35 which is formed with an opening 36 adapted, in one position of the sleeve, to aline with the sight opening 37 of the bubble tube casing. Qbviously, turning this sleeve, it may be brought into such a 4 position as to close the sight opening. 37, and .100 thus protect the glass tube of, the 'level from injury. will, of course, he nnderstood that the bubbletubes 20 and 22 are mounted.

in the same manner as the hubble-tube 2l T r with, of course, the exception that the ad- 105 justing screws for the bubble tnbe 20 are threaded through. the thickened. reinforcing webs 23.

The terminal sectionsll and 12 of the level are provided in spaced relation to 110 their outer. or free ends with transverse brace webs 38 and adjacent thesewebs with vertical bubble tubes 3.9 and 40 correspond,- ing to the bubble tubes 21 and 22 0f the intermediate section and similarly mounted 115 between thickened upper and lower web portions ll of the sections The sight openings of the vertical, tubes of the intermediate or central section are preferably. directed toward the ends of such section to facilitate. 12 0 their reading, in use, while the open ings of the terminal sections are preferablydirected inwardly toward the intermediate section to facilitate inspection of thebub bles therein as the tool, when completely..125 assembled, is of considerable length;

The upper and lower framemembersof the intermediate section 10 at eaclrend and the upper and lower frame members of the terminal sections at their free ends are pro; 130

vided with vertically formed tapped bores 42 adapted to receive the threaded shanks of leveling or adjusting screws 43. Obviously, either the upper or lower face of the level may be supported in spaced relation above the work being operated upon by the use of these screws. At times, however, these screws are not desired and when not in use they may be threaded into tapped bores formed in one side of the thickened web portions .44 connecting the upper and lower fr me members of the terminal sections and spaced between the bubble tubes thereof and the inner ends of the sections.

These adjusting or leveling screws do not, however, insure a wide bearing surface and their range of adjustment is, of necessity, limited. For this reason, I provide supporting members 45, best shown in Fig. 6, which may be adjustably secured to the free ends of the terminal sections of the level. Thes supporting members are in the form of T-shaped brackets having the base portion 46 adapted to rest upon the work being operated upon and the shank portion 47 engaging against the end face of the level section and held against swinging movement by inwardly directed longitudinal flanges 48 at its sides engaging over the side edges of the end member of the frame. This stem portion 47 is formed with a longitudinal slot 49 to receive the shank of a clamping screw 50 which is threaded into a tapped bore formed in the end of the level section. Obviously, by this arrangement, any independent movement of the supporting members, when once they are secured in adjusted position, is prevented although the range of adjustment of such members is considerable.

Levels are often employed not only for determining the level of work upon which they actually rest, but also for determining corresponding elevations at distant points and sometimes for determining distant points in alinement with the work being constructed, either of these operations being accomplished by properly positioning the level and then sighting along its upper edge. To facilitate these operations, I provide front and rear sights 51 and 52, respectively, which are best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Each of these sights includes an L-shaped body 53, one arm of which is formed with a circular sight opening 54 and the other arm of which is slotted, as shown at 55 to receive the shank of a clamping screw 56. Obviously, these clamping screws may be threaded into any of the tapped bores 42 formed in the upper or lower edges of the level sections and the sights thereby detachably mounted for operation. On the other hand, when the sights are not in use, their clamping screws may be threaded into the unoccupied ends of the bores of the thickened web portions 44 and the sights thereby clamped to such portions where they will be out of the way. The front sight 51 is provided with a head 57 as shown in Fig. 6, while the rear sight 52 is provided with a cross hair or bar 58.

As the general operation of my improved tool differs in no way from that of tools of similar types, a description of its manner of employment is unnecessary. It will be apparent, however, that I have provided a combination plumb rule, straight edge and level possessing many advantages over tools of like character now in use, chief among which is the ready manner in which the hubble tubes may be adjustably secured in the frames making up the level body or removed from such frames for repair or storage.

Another advantage consists in the forming of the level body in sections and in a simple and yet effective means for fastening the sections in accurate alinement with each other.

While my improved level is preferably formed of any suitable metal, such as steel, it may be formed of wood or it may be stamped from a suitable gage of sheet metal. Obviously, either of these latter methods of forming it would necessitate certain changes in the minor details of construction and I, therefore, reserve the right to make any changes within the scope of the appended claims without in the slightest degree sacrificing any of my rights under this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a tool of the class described, a frame having an aperture oppositely bounded by thickened web portions, a bubble tube casing formed at one end with a head having a rounded socket in its outer face and at its other end with a head having oppositely inclined faces formed with longitudinal grooves, the casing being adapted to seat in the recess with its heads adjacent the thickened webs, an adjusting screw having a rounded terminal threaded through the frame and seating in the socket of one head, and co-acting adjusting screws threaded through the frame and having rounded heads seating in the grooves of the inclined faces of the other head.

2. In a tool of the class described, a frame apertured and having its aperture oppositely bounded by thickened webs, a bubble tube casing formed at its ends with heads, one of which, in its outer face, is provided with a,

rounded socket, the casing being adapted to seat in the aperture with its heads spaced from the thickened webs, a screw threaded through the frame and having a rounded terminal seating in the socket of the casing head, and means co-acting between the frame and other head for adjustably securing the casing in place, said means including coacting clamping screws threaded through the frame and engaging the other head.

3. 'In a tool of the class described, a frame apertured and having its aperture oppositely bounded by thickened webs, a bubble tube casing formed at its ends with heads, one of which, in its outer face, is provided with a rounded socket, the casing being adapted to seat in the aperture with its heads spaced from the thickened webs, a screw threaded through the frame and having a rounded terminal seating in the socket of the casing head, and means co-acting between the frame and other head for adjustably securing the casing in place said means including. co-acting clamping screws threaded through the frame and engaging the other head, the head being formed in opposite faces With inclined grooves to receive the ends of the screws,

4. In a tool of the class described, a frame, a bubble tube casing supported in the frame and including a cylindrical body portion having a sight opening and heads connected to the ends of the body portion, and a sleeve rotatable about the body portion and formed with a sight opening movable into and out of alinement with the sight opening of the casing.

In testimony whereof I affix ture,

ADAM G. BERKEBILE. [1,. s.]

(topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the (Commissioner ,of Patents,

Washing'con., ID. 0,

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